Heat Olive Oil in a pan, add chopped onion and cook until translusent,Add minced garlic, but be careful...do not burn it....it will become bitter.Add a pinch of salt, some ground pepper, a dash of red pepper flakes(optional)About 1-2 minutes after the garlic hits the pan, add 2 TBSP of tomato paste and mix.Now add the crushed tomoatoesAdd a little more salt and pepper, plus a pinch of sugarRip apart a bunch of fresh basil leaves and stir everything.Bring everything up to a bubble, them simmer on low heat about 30-45 minutes.

Serve with over your favorite pasta and sprinkle with cheese and a little extra basil!

IMPORTANT TIPS:

Always use fresh garlic and fresh basil. The jarred garlic and dried basil do not give it the same flavor!

I use this as the base sauce to all of our pasta dishes. You can add vegetables, ground meat, sausage, or make your own meatballs.....I guess that is a good idea for the next recipe that I share with you all...homemade meatballs!

And lastly, I have to eat it with Pecorino Romano Cheese sprinkled on top...you can find it fresh in your deli...it is a little more expensive, but so worth it....fresh is always better!

We were having so much fun in the kitchen....we decided to make dessert too! If we were having an Italian meal, we need an Italian dessert....

Melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the sugar and the rest of the ingredients, if it is too thick add a little more water. Keep stirring and drizzle over the cookies when they come out of the oven.

After a day with Sarah in the kitchen.....this was my idea of dinner!!

Okay, only kidding, I needed a big plate of that pasta with lots of cheese, but I did enjoy a big glass of wine with it!

So there you have it....two recipes for the price of one!! Hope you enjoy!

A special thanks to Jodee for my new apron!! We certainly put it to good use this weekend.....it was a perfect gift for someone who loves to cook...thank you for thinking of me!

Looks like my kind of day....pasta, vino....my girl at my side assisting...doesn't get any better my friend!! I am totally trying thos cookies soon...we love to bake and those just look yummo!

Now on to the meatballs...my Swedish grandma got a recipe from an Italia woman who lived next to her in Niagra Falls when my grandfather served in a defense plant during WWII....and it is our guarded family secret! Just this past 4th of July we squared off against my Italian BIL and his mom...and my Grandma's meatballs won in a blind taste test!!! I really should post about that...there was even a trophy!!! But you know...would be glad to take a look at YOUR recipe....

I so can't wait for Jason to come home in a few weeks so I can try this out on him! Yummo girlfriend! I bet you and Sarah had a blast in the kitchen today. The pics are ADORABLE, as always! You have a chefs kitchen~ lovely! Your apron~ so chic!The wine~ the piece de resistance! I'm so with you on that sister! L&H, LesSo...if we get orders to Aviano AB, Italy in the future, will you guys come visit us? That would be fun!

That's our marinara recipe too (but with a whole can of tomato paste!). I'm pretty bad about using fresh basil :( But always always always use fresh Romano or Parmesan. The green can will NEVER be seen in our home!

How fun!!! I love to cook but never do full days of cooking. What a fun thing to share with your little girl. I cant wait to get to do the same with mia-- how fun!!!

The pasta looked awesome!! We are putting planter boxes in our courtyard with fresh herbs so that we can use them frequently in our cooking- it is expensive to buy them fresh. Anyway, love the pics and love the new apron-- isnt jodee great!!!

I know I always comment on your babies but how cute are you in your pink apron!! Lools like you had a great time with Sarah in the kitchen and thoes recipes sound so good.. Iam on a diet so I cant eat them but I will jot them down for later when I am skinny HAHA. what fun memories you are making with Sarah! Hugs Belinda

Well if you are not adorable!!!! Love the apron! Hey I make my sauce the same way (recipe from my Grandmother). Only difference is that Grandma used tomatoes and I cheat by using canned ; 0 Love the cookie recipe. I will be posting my chile recipe later today. I love chili on a cold day (like today). Hey, I saw some flakes today...have you seen any flakes yet?

I am coming to your house for dinner... though Mike and I are very, very laid back... to forewarn you... we don't drink alcohol... we will nurse a coke and a diet coke for me thanks... hehehehehe... can't wait to see the costume...